Michael Chang Named an ENR West Top 30 under 40 Young Professional

Michael Chang Named an ENR West Top 30 under 40 Young Professional

AC Martin is proud to announce that Managing Principal Michael Chang, AIA, DBIA, LEED AP BD+C, has been named one of ENR West’s 2026 Top Young Professionals by Engineering News-Record. The annual recognition honors emerging leaders under 40 who are making significant contributions to the architecture, engineering, and construction industry across the western United States.

Remembering Glenn Togawa

Remembering Glenn Togawa

Remembering Glenn Noboru Togawa, FAIA
Partner, Mentor, Community Advocate
June 14, 1946 – March 26, 2025

Los Angeles, CA — One year after his passing, AC Martin honors the life and enduring legacy of Glenn Noboru Togawa, architect, founding partner, mentor, and community leader, whose work helped shape Los Angeles’ multifamily residential landscape and generations of design professionals.

Building Belonging for Tomorrow: Inclusive Student Housing Trends

Building Belonging for Tomorrow: Inclusive Student Housing Trends

On November 19, 2025, AC Martin’s Inclusive Design Employee Resource Group (ERG) hosted Building Belonging for Tomorrow: Inclusive Student Housing Trends at our Los Angeles office and virtually. The conversation brought together student housing directors, a student housing developer, and design professionals to explore how student housing can better reflect the evolving realities of today’s learners.

Produced by Inclusive Design ERG Co-Chairs Jalisa Joyner and Shawna Upp. The panel featured:

Steffan Leisner

Steffen brings more than 26 years of experience in designing innovative and impactful learning environments, with a career largely dedicated to educational projects. He is passionate about creating spaces that advance accessibility, equity, and student success, and has led the design of numerous academic buildings, student centers, and other campus facilities. Known for a collaborative and client-focused approach, he builds strong partnerships with educators, administrators, and key stakeholders to deliver on client goals.

Matt Wister

With nearly 25 years of experience, Matt is a visionary project leader specializing in sustainability and adaptive re-use. He expertly bridges high-level strategic thinking with hands-on project management and team mentorship, leading complex design and construction projects from concept to completion. Matt is deeply invested in advancing sustainable design, seamlessly integrating environmental responsibility with technical innovation and operational excellence.

Athenel Trazo

Athenel Trazo has over 25 years of experience, most recently with higher education projects. She has led and managed project teams in creatively developing and efficiently executing design intent in programming, planning, educational specifications, conceptual design, schematic design, and design development. Her strong interpersonal skills help her create a natural flow of collaboration between the design team and project stakeholders.

Kersu Dalal

Kersu is the Director of Planning and Programming with more than 25 years of experience in campus planning, site development strategies, and program-driven design. Trained as an architect with a Master of Architecture degree in Urban Policy & Design from UCLA, he brings a strong foundation in planning frameworks that support academic, research, and institutional missions.

Natt Puapornpong

A NCIDQ-certified interior design leader and IIDA member, Natt delivers creative, client-focused solutions that balance aesthetic vision with business goals—driving design excellence while ensuring projects are delivered on time and within budget. She leads projects from concept through construction, guiding teams in transforming complex ideas into impactful built environments. 18 years of leadership in project management, space planning, and design execution, Natt has led high-projects nationwide across corporate workplace, education, high-end mixed-use, and multifamily sectors.

AC Martin Internship Program Accepting Applications

AC Martin Internship Program Accepting Applications

The AC Martin Internship Program aims to enrich the education of architecture students through year-round internship opportunities. We actively engage in community outreach and recruitment events to boost the firm's visibility among students and young professionals. AC Martin's extensive experience in architecture, interiors, and planning creates collaborative opportunities for specialized design and technical expertise. 

The Monroe

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The Monroe

San Diego, CA

The Monroe is a LEED Platinum, eight-story multifamily community located at the corner of Polk Avenue and Illinois Street in San Diego’s North Park neighborhood. Completed in 2025, the 135,477-square-foot project includes 137 apartments—11 of which are affordable—and 107 covered, automated parking spaces provided through a mechanized stacked parking system that maximizes efficiency on a tight urban site.

The building is designed as a 5-over-3 podium structure that fits comfortably within a neighborhood of primarily lower-scale buildings while introducing a contemporary residential presence. Two simple but connected design elements meet at the corner, where a fully glazed amenity space is framed by projecting concrete that forms a continuous balcony and creates an active street edge. Material contrasts help define the building’s character. The south façade features smooth white plaster that reflects daylight and keeps the massing light, while the east façade uses textured fiber-cement panels and a regular pattern of openings and balconies to add depth and rhythm. Together, these elements create a clear, cohesive identity that complements the surrounding context.

Amenities are organized across three levels to support daily living and resident interaction. The ground-floor leasing area includes an interior stair that leads directly to the second-floor amenity level, which opens to a central courtyard and includes a two-story fitness center. Additional shared spaces are located on the eighth floor, including an amenity lounge and rooftop terrace with landscaped areas, lounge seating, fire pits, barbecues, co-working space, and views of downtown San Diego and the bay. By combining high-performance sustainability, efficient parking solutions, and well-planned amenities, The Monroe delivers practical, comfortable urban housing that supports both residents and the surrounding neighborhood.

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